Screen



M. J. TRACY April 29, 1958 SCREEN Filed June 26, 1957 United StatesPatent SCREEN Michael J. Tracy, Maryland Heights, Mo. Application June26, 1957, Serial No. 668,051 Claims. (Cl. 160-371) This inventionrelates to screens, and more particularly to a window screen of a typeparticularly adapted for use in penal and psychiatric institutions wheresecurity is an essential factor.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofa screen of the class described having an improved, simplified, moreeconomical means for holding taut the wire cloth of the screen; theprovision of such holding means which is capable of resiliently yieldingupon impact on the wire cloth to absorb,

the shock, thereby to prevent tearing loose of the wire cloth, alsoacting to retighten the wire cloth so that it will be flat; theprovision of such holding means which allows for easy replacement of thewire cloth if necessary; and the provision of such holding means whichis tamper-proof. Other objects and features will be in part apparent andin part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a screen of this invention, as viewedfrom what is the outside of the screen as it is mounted in a window,parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on either of the lines 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the effect of impact onthe wire cloth and,

Fig. 4 is a fragment of Fig. 2 showing how the wire cloth panel may bereleased.

Corresponding reference characters indicate correspending partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a screen of this invention is shown tocomprise a rigid open rectangular frame generally designated 1 definingan opening 3. The frame has a flange 5 projecting from the face 7 of theframe surrounding the opening 3. This face 7 of the frame is its outsideface as mounted in a window opening. As shown,

the frame 1 is made up of angle bar sections, such as steel angle barsections, with welded mitered corners such as indicated at 9 in Fig. 1.

A wire cloth panel 11 is located over the opening 3 on the outside ofthe frame engaging the edge of the flange 5. The cloth used for thispanel is usually a heavy double-crimped stainless steel wire mesh, forexample, a cloth made from .028 diameter wire woven twelve mesh to theinch.

Means of this invention for holding the wire cloth panel 11 taut overthe opening is shown to comprise a plurality of retainers, eachdesignated 13, mounted on the face 7 of the frame and located on theoutside of the flange 5. Each of these retainers comprises an elongatesheet metal member (a sheet steel member, for example) of channel shapein cross section so that it has a web portion 15 and flange portions 17and 19. The

panel of the screen;

2,832,407 Patented Apr. 29, 1958 ice flange portions 17 and 19 aregenerally parallel to one another but, rather than being at right anglesto the web 15 flange 17 is formed at an acute angle to the web andflange 19 is formed at an obtuse angle to the web.

Each retainer is mounted on the face 7 of the frame with its flangeportion 17 (which constitutes its base portion) engaging face 7 and withboth its flange portions 17 and 19 projecting laterally outward awayfrom the flange 5 of the frame. The base portion 17 extends to the frameflange. 5 and the web portion 15 angles back away from the frame flange5. Each retainer is mounted on the face 7 of the frame by means of apair of threaded studs 21 welded to the frame andextending outward fromthe frame through holes 23 in the base portion 17 of the retainer, withnuts 25 threaded on the studs over the base portions. As shown in Figs.2 and 3, these nuts are threaded down on the studs to hold the baseportions 17 of the retainers flat against theframe. i

The wire cloth panel 11 has its margins bent as indicated at 27 toextend around the flange portions 19 of the retainers 13, and these bentmargins of the cloth panel are firmly secured to the flange portions 19by means of sheet metal clips 29 which are held in tightened conditionas by means of self tapping screws 31.

The wire cloth panel is installed so that it is under tension and henceheld taut over the opening 3. In the event of a blow on the panel, theweb portions 15 of the retainers resiliently yield, bending inwardtoward the frame flange 5 as shown in Fig. 3, thereby absorbing theshock and preventing the cloth from tearing loose, also acting toretighten it. If it should become necessary to replace a wire clothpanel 11, nuts 25 are loosened to release the panel 11 (see Fig. 4),whereupon clips 29 may be readily taken off, and a new panel 11installed. Then the new panel is tightened simply by turning down thenuts 25. i

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and. other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. A screen comprising a rigid frame defining an opening, the framehaving a flange projecting from one face thereof surrounding theopening, a wire cloth panel over the opening engaging the edge of theflange, and means for holding the wire cloth panel taut over the openingcomprising a plurality of retainers mounted on said face of the frameoutward of said flange, each of said retainer members having a baseportion mounted on said face of the frame and a web portion projectingoutward from said face of the frame, the web portion of each retainerbeing resiliently yieldable toward the flange, the wire cloth panelbeing secured to the web portions of the retainers.

2. A screen as set forth in claim 1 wherein each retainer is made ofsheet metal and the web portion of each from the frame through holes insaid base portions and nuts threaded on said studs over said baseportions.

4.. A screen as set forth in claim 2 wherein the base portion of eachretainer extends to the flange and the web portion of each retainer isbent to extend from the inner edge of the base portion at an acute angleto the base portion.

5. A screen as set forth in claim 4 wherein the base 3 portion of eachretainer is mounted on the said face of the frame by means of threadedstuds extending outward from the frame through holes in said baseportions and nuts threaded on said studs oversaid base portions.

6. A screen comprising a rigid frame defining an opening, the framehaving a flange projecting from one face thereof surrounding theopening, a wire cloth panel over the opening engaging the edge of theflange, and means for holding the wire cloth panel taut over the openingcomprising a plurality of retainers mounted on said face of the frameoutward of said flange, each of said retain" er members comprising anelongate sheet metal member of channel-shape in cross section so that ithas a web portion and, flange portions, each channel-section retainerbeing mounted on said face of the frame with one of its flange portionsengaging said face of the frame, and with both flange portionsprojecting outward away from the frame flange, the web portion of eachretainer being resiliently yieldable toward the, frame flange, the wirecloth panel being secured to the other flange portions of the retainers.

7. A screen as set forth in claim 6 wherein the web portion of eachretainer is angled back away from the flange.

8. A screen as set forth in claim 7 wherein the said one flange portionof each retainer is mounted on the said face of the frame by means ofthreaded studs extending outward from the frame through holes in thesaid one flange portion and nuts threaded on said studs over the saidone flange portion.

9. A screen as set forth in claim 7 wherein the said one flange portionof each retainer extends to the flange of the frame and the web portionis bent to extend from the inner edge of the said one flange portion atan acute angle to the said one flange portion.

10. A screen as set forth in claim 9 wherein the said one flange portionof each retainer is mounted on the said No references cited.

